Re: Histroy of Women in Scouting?
Rodger Morris (rodger@FISHNET.NET)
Wed, 27 Nov 1996 20:40:57 -0800
At 02:14 PM 11/27/96 -0700, you wrote:
>Help
>I am helping out at our Council-wide once a year
>adult leader training. I was volunteered to
>teach about the history of women in Scouting.
>I need the help of the people on this list.
>Some of the questions that come to mind:
>
>1. How and when did women become USA Scoutmasters,
> Cubmasters and Webelos leaders? (Was there a court case?)
>
About 1987. No court ever ordered the BSA to admit women as Scoutmasters.
There _were_ reportedly several dozen cases going through the court systems
at the time.
Women in 1972 were allowed to be den mothers, and only den mothers. These
strictures were gradually eliminated over the next 15 years.
>2. History of women in Scouting in other countries
> than the USA.
>
I defer to others who know more than I about this subject. I can say only
that women were serving in all positions as Scouters in two of the three
Scout associations in Spain that are members of WOSM in the 1982-1985
timeframe, whilst I was a U.S. Navy officer stationed in Spain at Naval
Station Rota.
>3. How and when were girls allowed to join USA Explorers?
> (Did this come about because of a court case?)
>
September 1972. No court ever ordered the BSA to admit girls to Exploring.
Again, I understand that there were legal challenges to the BSA's policy
of allowing only boys to be Scouts in the BSA wending their way through
the various state court systems at the time.
>4. First woman Scoutmaster? First woman Assistant Scoutmaster?
> First woman Cubmaster? Also any other firsts.
>
I don't know.
I trust that this is of some assistance to you.
Yours in Scouting,
Rodger
Rodger Morris <rodger@fishnet.net>
Scoutmaster, Troop 852 Wood Badge 416-18
Ventura County Council at Philmont, 1973
Camarillo, California, USA "I used to be a Beaver..."
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
